Wichita gardener’s almanac for Aug. 1
Ah, relief — It was so nice to get some rain and a cooldown this week after lots of teases that produced little but sprinkles.
Blossom end rot — The wet-again-dry-again weather has been conducive to blossom end rot on tomatoes. The condition is self-explanatory: It produces a leathery patch on the bottoms of tomatoes. The plants will grow out of it in a couple of weeks; pick affected tomatoes to encourage new replacements.
Grasshoppers control — Grasshoppers are best battled before they have matured, Ward Upham of K-State says. Permethrin is a good choice around vegetable crops, he says, but a reinfestation can occur quickly. Sevin can also be used, but it also can lead to an infestation of mites, because Sevin kills the mites’ predators. Organic controls may be less effective; be sure to read labels for requirements.
Red spot on peonies — The weather has been conducive to spots showing up on the leaves of peony plants that often coalesce into splotches, Upham says. At the end of the season, remove all diseased tissue, including stems, he says, and also pick up any mulch that has this plant material in it and replace with fresh mulch.
Picking a ripe melon — To me, the essense of summer is contained in a bite of ripe watermelon. Here are some tips from Upham on picking ripe melons, from the garden, the farmers market or the store:
If picking a watermelon from the garden, look for the tendril where the melon attaches to the vine to dry and turn brown, Upham says. On some varieties, the tendril needs to be completely dry; on others, it just needs to be in the process of turning brown.
The surface of a watermelon also develops a roughness near the base and a yellow “ground spot” – where the melon touches the ground – when ripe.
Test a cantaloupe by a gentle pressure where the vine attaches to the fruit. If the melon slips easily from the vine, it’s ripe. The stem end also should be fragrant, and there should be a clean, dish-shaped scar there.
Earlidew honeydew melons slip like cantaloupes when ripe, but other honeydews don’t. “Ripe honeydew melons become soft on the flower end of the fruit,” Upham says. “The ‘flower end’ is the end opposite where the stem attaches. Also, honeydews should change to a light or yellowish color when ripe, but this varies with variety.”
Plant — Carrots, broccoli, endive, cauliflower, kale, beets.
Garden events
John Fullbright at Bartlett Arboretum — Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine will be open Sunday for a concert by singer and song-writer John Fullbright of Okemah, Okla. Gates open at 3 p.m., and the show starts at 4. Tickets are $10 at the gate; children are free. Picnics are welcome, and barbecue and Luciano’s Italian food will be available for purchase.
Tuesdays on the Terrace — Wildflowers & Whiskey Sours is the theme for the next Tuesdays on the Terrace at Botanica. Timmy Jonas & The Whiskey Militia will perform from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, and dinner from Molino’s and drinks will be for sale. The gardens are open until 8. The cost is $7, $3 for members.
Talk on monarch butterflies — Retired Botanica gardener Elsie Neumann will be back at Botanica on Wednesday to give a lunchtime lecture on how to help provide food sources for monarch butterflies. Her talk, at 12:15 p.m., is included in Botanica admission or membership. Lunch by Syl’s will be for sale for $8 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Plein air painting course at Bartlett Arboretum — Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine will offer its first plein air painting course, to be taught by Diana Werts of Lawrence on Aug. 8 and 9. The cost is $50. For more information, e-mail info@BartlettArboretum.com.
Annie Calovich
This story was originally published August 1, 2015 at 8:42 AM with the headline "Wichita gardener’s almanac for Aug. 1."